Real 850 Ecodes

Post by **tjts1** » 18 Nov 2007, 21:03

This weekend I had the opportunity to install my newly arrived 850 ecodes from Germany. These are not just lenses. Despite popular belief, the difference between 850 DOT and ecode headlights extends beyond just the lenses. Ecode lenses fit on DOT headlamps because the share the same outline but thats it. Ecodes use H1 bulbs (not 9005/9006), have different shape reflectors, don't have the bubble level system and produce wide flat beam pattern with a sharp horizontal cutoff at the top with an upkick on the right.

First excited pic when I took them out of the box.

Ecode lens.

Ecode low beam reflector.

Highbeam. You can see the H1 bulb in its housing. I installed 100w bulbs in both the high and low beams for a little extra kick. Despite the high wattage, the sharp beam pattern ensures that these headlights give off less glare than regular DOT lights.

This is sort of a nice comparison between the ecode with glass lens on the left vs the DOT light with plastic lens on the right.

I like the take apart my ecodes (4 cars so far) and paint the lower flat bit of the reflector that doesn't serve any purpose other than create glare flat black.

Now I just have to do something these cracked turn signals.

Post by **JRL** » 18 Nov 2007, 21:27

Very nice.....
but since your front end is all chipped up, these lights need a more deserving home, MY CAR, sell them to me.
Oh BTW, I sure hope you upgraded your wiring harness as the OEM harness cannot take 100w bulbs for too long before the harness BURNS UP!
(It will)

Post by **tjts1** » 19 Nov 2007, 00:12

JRL wrote:Very nice.....
but since your front end is all chipped up, these lights need a more deserving home, MY CAR, sell them to me.
Oh BTW, I sure hope you upgraded your wiring harness as the OEM harness cannot take 100w bulbs for too long before the harness BURNS UP!
(It will)

What can I say. I live dangerously. Checked the wires after about 1 hour of continuous use. Nothing got hot at the housing or the fuse box. I guess the real issue comes into play in the common ground wire when both the low beams and high beams are on. For the old 240 and my 960 I built a full wiring harness with separate relays and 12 gauge wires. With the stock 18 gauge wiring the voltage at the headlights in those cars dropped off to about 11v. The 850 uses 16 gauge which isn't ideal but at least I still get 13v at the headlights with the engine on. I also switched off the daytime running lights (stupid invention IMHO) which should preserve the bulbs longer.

If you are interested in ecodes, check German ebay. They are cheaper than new ecode lenses from FCPgroton. UK ebay is even cheaper but utterly useless because they drive on the wrong side of the road.

volvosafe · Post by **volvosafe** » 25 Nov 2007, 07:41

I have often wondered if the is a switch under the dash to turn off the daytime running lights?

It would be nice to not have to replace them sooner than later.

96 850 turbo wagon

Post by **tjts1** » 25 Nov 2007, 10:05

volvosafe wrote:I have often wondered if the is a switch under the dash to turn off the daytime running lights?

On the back of the headlights switch there is a small white 3 positin slider switch marked with positions "A, B, C". Each letter is a different headlight setting: Low beam DRL, no DRL, headlights and tail lights on DRL. When we got the car all the lights were staying on all the time. Stupid setting.

Post by **JRL** » 25 Nov 2007, 17:26

That's Canada, US cars have a little slot on the headlight switch housing (IN FRONT)
Just push the slot in with a very small screwdriver, turn left to approx 10:00 and release, presto no DRL's

Free2drive! · Post by **Free2drive!** » 27 Nov 2007, 08:43

Nice lights!! My dash has small switch (so small you need a jewellers screw driver to turn it) within the headlight switch so you can have drl on or off. Car is 95 model here in UK but my 93 never had the switch perhaps it was just certain years.
Matt

Post by **tjts1** » 27 Nov 2007, 10:37

JRL wrote:That's Canada, US cars have a little slot on the headlight switch housing (IN FRONT)

Actually it was on a 96 US car.

tshea4126 · Post by **tshea4126** » 27 Nov 2007, 14:47

Nice! Great pixs and info. could you share your source info? URL would work nicely. And cost?

TShea
Orlando, FL
Black '96 850 Turbo (Daughter's) 146,000, K&N air filter, Koni shocks/struts, strut tower brace.

Post by **tjts1** » 27 Nov 2007, 15:17

I found them on ebay.de There was a handful of people selling 850 ecodes but most either didn't speak English or were unwilling to ship to the US. Total cost was $200 shipped in 2 weeks ago dollars. How sad is that?